Isa Osmany
Big Data Applications in Smart Cities: A Delphi Study of Components and
Challenges to Implementation
This research intends to carry out an exploratory study
aimed at identifying the main challenges and key components required to design,
develop, and implement smart city applications which utilize big data. A Delphi
study consisting of two rounds will take place. In the first round, experts in
big data and smart cities will be used to identify the key required components
and main challenges. In the second round, these components and challenges will
then be rated, according to their importance, and ranked in descending order.
Bonolo Motsepe
South African municipal websites: examining website maturity
and the relationship with human development indicators
A smart city is a city which encompasses many different
aspects. It makes use of ICT tools and applications to provide better access to
and delivery of government services. These services extend across the domains
of natural resources and energy, transport and mobility, buildings, living,
government, as well as the economy. E-Government initiatives, which form a part
of smart city projects, use ICT tools and applications to improve service
delivery to society. Local governments in South Africa are implementing smart
city initiatives, e-government initiatives as well as poverty alleviation
programmes to improve living conditions. The maturity of e-government is
dependent on the presence of certain of website features. Website maturity is
accelerating in the public sector, with a special focus on functionality and
performance, and municipalities have moved away from static dissemination of
information.
My study aims to investigate the current state of
e-government maturity in South Africa, and examine the relationship maturity
has with human development indicators. To achieve this, I employ a purposive
sampling of 26 municipal websites. The research is quantitative and descriptive
in nature and follows a positivist paradigm. The outcome of this paper will be
the current state of e-government in South Africa, and the relationship of
e-government maturity with human development indicators. Recommendations will
be made on the improvements required for progressive e-government.
Letlotlo Khoathane
Ecosystem
factors that impact the implementation of smart city services
Smart cities are a relatively new phenomenon in
Africa and little research has been carried out in this context. Therefore
identifying factors that contribute towards a smart city ecosystem is
significant to understand how smart city services can be implemented within
South Africa. The identification of ecosystem factors that have an impact on
smart city service implementation can substantially contribute towards
understanding which factors to focus on to ensure a greater chance of
successful smart city services implementation within the City of Johannesburg.
With this understanding, organisations that have a vested interest in smart
services can be prepared in dealing with the complexities of implementing smart
services and further know how to go about fostering innovation within the city.
This research therefore proposes a framework that explores 6 dimensions which
are suggested to encompass smart city ecosystem factors. The model is tested
using a quantitative approach and makes use of a close-ended field survey. An
electronic survey will be distributed to 400 potential respondents in order to
gain at least 80 useful responses. The research makes use of regression
analysis to establish the extent to which the proposed factors impact the
successful implementation of smart city services in the City of
Johannesburg.
Lizalise
Myataza
A study of data science use for informated
transport services within Southern African Development Community countries
In order to achieve a successful transportation
sector, it is imperative for a country to have decent transport infrastructure
and services. However, this is not the case as many African countries are still
grossly underdeveloped with regards to transportation. The idea of smart cities
is a much debated topic in terms of what qualifies as smartness for smart
cities, and how this can be achieved. The general consensus by authors is that
smart cities can enhance the quality of life and transform the transportation
industry by providing informated transport services to create an informated
living experience. In addition, the emergence of data science brings high hopes
for enhancing smart cities due to its capability to transform city life by
utilizing big data to provide increased sophistication, in-depth and real time
knowledge and management of a city on a larger scale. The research studies the
concept of creating smart cities through the provision of informated transport
services using data science technologies, specifically in SADC countries.
This research is an exploratory study underpinned
by a qualitative methodology. A study is conducted across informated service
providers in African cities and the findings are reflected in the research
report. The purpose of the study is to determine what informated transport
services are offered in SADC countries, identify the providers of such services
and establish to what extent informated transport services are supported by
data science. The research explores the initial steps for futures studies that
may assess the impact of data science use in smart informated services.
Kundai Mutseyekwa
Influential factors
for corporations to invest in smart city initiatives as part of their corporate
social responsibility programmes in South Africa
The study examines
the factors that influence public limited companies and multinational companies
to invest in smart city initiatives in South Africa as part of their corporate
social responsibility programmes. The study is conducted in South Africa and
focuses on corporate social responsibility and smart cities. It aims to fill a
gap in our understanding of corporate social responsibility and smart cities: Why
do corporations invest in smart city initiatives? The study will provide
guidance to stakeholders who are seeking funding from corporations for smart
city initiatives. Stakeholders will understand the factors that influence corporations
to fund smart city initiatives as part of their social responsibility programmes.
This study will be a contribution to academia and to practice.
Brian Pheelwane
Factors influencing the adoption of smartphone applications
in the context of a smart city’s e-services
This research focuses on the adoption of smartphone applications
(smart city apps), which will assist citizens to access and utilise the
services provided by the City of Johannesburg. The factors that influence the
adoption of smart city e-services are investigated for further knowledge on how
these services can enhance quality of life and to explore challenges in the
implementation and adoption of smartphone applications to deliver services
efficiently to the city’s residents. This research is underpinned by Rogers
1995 Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT). The theory will be explored for
knowledge that can assist the City in enhancing its smart city status, through
the use of e-services.
